Art Fabrication in Dubai: How We Make Artists' Work in Stone, Bronze and Steel

29 October 2026 · Husain Vajihi, founder of 1-OPH

Short answer: Art fabrication in Dubai means an artist or gallery designs the work and a fabricator makes it. At 1-OPH we take a drawing, model or file, develop it in stone, bronze or stainless steel, prove it with renders, 3D prints and samples, then make, finish and install it, under strict confidentiality.

Many of the artists we work with are painters, photographers or digital artists. They have a clear idea for a sculpture but no foundry, no stone yard and no welding bay. That is the gap a fabricator fills.

We have fabricated pieces for artists represented by leading galleries, and some of that work has been shown in major museums in the region. We never show it or name it. Here is how the process works, from the artist's side.

What does an art fabricator actually do?

We turn an artist's intent into a finished object. That covers engineering the form so it stands up, choosing the right material and process, making it, finishing the surface, and delivering and installing it. The artist stays the author. We solve the problems between the idea and the object.

Good fabrication is invisible. The work should look exactly as the artist meant, with none of our fingerprints on it.

What should an artist send to start?

• Whatever you have: a sketch, a maquette, a photo of a small model, a 3D file, or reference images.
• The intended size, and where it will live: indoors, outdoors, a gallery, a collector's home.
• The material and finish you imagine, even if you're not sure.
• The deadline, if there is a show or a handover date.

From that we can tell you what is possible, what will need adapting, and roughly what it will cost.

Which materials and processes can you work in?

Marble and other natural stone, carved by machine and finished by hand. Bronze, cast and patinated. Stainless steel and brass, fabricated, polished or coloured. Mixed pieces that combine them. For very large work we design the internal structure and fixings as part of the job.

If you are choosing between materials, our guide to mixed-material sculpture and the explanation of bronze patina are good starting points.

How do approvals work before the piece is made?

In stages, so there are no surprises at the end. First a render or 3D model you can turn and comment on. Then, where it matters, a 3D-printed model at a manageable scale, so you can hold the form and check proportions. Then material and finish samples in the actual stone or metal. You sign off each stage before we move to the next.

This is where most problems are solved. It is far cheaper to change a file than a block of marble.

How is confidentiality handled?

Strictly. The design is yours. We do not publish, photograph for marketing, or share commissioned artist work, and we do not reuse the design. Many artists and galleries work with us precisely because of this. If you need a formal agreement, we sign one.

Do you deliver and install for collectors and galleries?

Yes. We crate, ship and install at the gallery, the collector's home or the public site, using specialist fine-art logistics partners and our own installation team. For large outdoor pieces that includes the footing and fixing design.

Galleries and consultants who place work with collectors can also use us as a white-label maker. More on that on our fabrication for artists page.

What I tell clients

• Send what you have. A sketch and a size is enough to start.
• Expect staged approvals: render, 3D print, samples, then fabrication.
• The artist stays the author; the fabricator solves the engineering.
• Confidentiality is standard, not an extra.
• For how designers and consultants source work, see sourcing bespoke art in the UAE.

Frequently asked questions

What is art fabrication?

An artist or gallery designs a work and a specialist fabricator makes it, handling engineering, materials, finishing and installation while the artist remains the author.

What do I need to send to start a fabrication project?

A sketch, model, 3D file or reference images, the intended size and location, the material you have in mind, and any deadline.

Which materials does 1-OPH fabricate in?

Marble and natural stone, cast bronze, stainless steel and brass, and mixed pieces combining them.

How do I approve a piece before it is made?

Through stages: a render or 3D model, a 3D-printed model where useful, then material and finish samples, each signed off before the next step.

Is artist work kept confidential?

Yes. Commissioned artist work is never published, shared or reused, and a formal agreement can be signed.

Have a piece in mind? Send a sketch or file through our fabrication for artists page and we will come back with what is possible and how we would make it.

1-OPH designs and delivers bespoke sculpture, water features, fireplaces, benches and planters in marble, stainless steel and bronze, for homes, hotels and developments across the UAE and GCC. Showroom in Al Quoz, Dubai.